Foot Operated Ball Pop-up System and Method of Operation

ABSTRACT

A device for vertically launching a ball up into the air. The device has a holding tee for selectively holding a ball. The holding tee is supported by an actuator. The actuator is movable between a first position, where the holding tee is extended, and a second position, where the holding tee is retracted. A main spring biases the actuator into its first position. When moved to its retracted second position against the force of the mainspring, the actuator engages a release mechanism. The release mechanism maintains the actuator in its second position for a period of time before the release mechanism automatically releases. Upon release, the mainspring immediately returns the actuator to its first position. This rapidly forces the holding tee upwardly. Any ball resting on the holding tee is subsequently launched into the air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to mechanical devices that pop a ball vertically into the air. More particularly, the present invention relates to foot operated devices that pop a ball a few feet into the air so that the ball can be hit with a bat.

2. Prior Art Description

It takes a good amount of hand eye coordination to hit a ball with a bat or a racket. Typically, those who are skilled at it begin developing this coordination at a very young age. When a child is first learning to strike a ball, the ball is often placed on a tee or suspended from a tether. The child can practice striking the stationary ball until they develop the muscle memory for a good swing and can strike the ball consistently. It is often at this stage that an adult may begin softly pitching a ball toward the child. Striking a pitched ball is far more difficult than hitting a stationary ball. Accordingly, much more practice is required before a child can consistently strike a softly pitched ball.

Softly pitching a ball to a young child can be tedious. Furthermore, it can be dangerous. The ball is often pitched close to the child, placing the pitcher in range of a wildly swung bat. Furthermore, if the child does contact the pitched ball, the ball can fly back toward the pitcher before the pitcher has time to react. One possible solution to this problem is to use a pitching machine. Pitching machines automatously tosses balls toward a batter, therein removing the need for a pitcher.

The problem that exists is that most pitching machines, including toy pitching machines, toss a ball too fast and too hard for a child who is just beginning to learn how to hit a pitched ball. The ball is often too fast to be struck by a young child. Furthermore, the ball can injure a young child by inadvertently striking the child in the face. Many pitching machines, including toy pitching machines, are also too complicated for a very young child to set up and properly use on their own. Accordingly, a need exists for a simple pitching machine that can be set up and be used by a very young child. A need also exists for a pitching machine that cannot strike a child with a pitch. These needs are met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device for popping a ball up into the air. The device has a holding tee for selectively holding a ball. The holding tee is supported by an actuator. The actuator is movable between a first position, where the holding tee is extended, and a second position, where the holding tee is retracted.

A main spring biases the actuator into its first position. When moved to its retracted second position against the force of the mainspring, the actuator engages a release mechanism. The release mechanism maintains the actuator in its second position for a period of time before the release mechanism automatically releases. Upon release, the mainspring immediately returns the actuator to its first position. This rapidly forces the holding tee upwardly. Any ball resting on the holding tee is subsequently launched into the air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of a pop-up device shown in conjunction with a ball;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment with a holding tee in an extended configuration;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment with a holding tee in a retracted configuration;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment with a tee moving from the retracted configuration of FIG. 4 to the extended configuration of FIG. 3 ; and

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the pop-up device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the present invention ball pop-up system can be embodied in many ways, only two exemplary embodiments are illustrated. The exemplary embodiments are being shown for the purposes of explanation and description. The exemplary embodiments are selected in order to set forth two of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a ball pop-up device 10 is shown. The ball pop-up device 10 includes a plurality of vertical fingers 12 that extend from a housing 14. The vertical fingers 12 have the same height and are symmetrically disposed around a common center. Accordingly, the vertical fingers 12 form a holding tee 16 above the housing 14 upon which a ball 18 can be placed.

A foot treadle 20 is provided. When the foot treadle 20 is depressed, the vertical fingers 12 partially retract into the housing 14. Simultaneously, an internal spring within the housing 14 is compressed and acts to return the vertical fingers 12 to their original heights. After a short intentional delay of between two seconds and ten seconds, the energy stored within the internal spring is released and the vertical fingers 12 suddenly shoot back to their original heights. The rapid movement of the vertical fingers 12 launches the ball 18 into the air. The ball 18 can then be struck with a bat or racket as the ball 18 is propelled vertically into the air.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 1 , it can be seen that the housing 14 has an inclined surface 22 and a circular platform 24 at the high end of the inclined surface 22. The circular platform 24 has a peripheral rim 26 that encircles a concave depression 28. The concave depression 28 enhances the ability of the circular platform 24 to hold the ball 18 when it is placed atop the circular platform 24. Openings 30 are symmetrically formed through the peripheral rim 26. The vertical fingers 12 extend through openings 30 in the peripheral rim 26 to form the holding tee 16. The vertical fingers 12 extend to a maximum height above the peripheral rim 26 of the circular platform 24. The foot treadle 20 extends through a much larger opening 32 in the inclined surface 22 of the housing 14.

The vertical fingers 12 and the foot treadle 20 are both part of a common actuator 40 that resides mostly within the housing 14. The actuator 40 has a base 34. The base 34 has a first section 36 and a second section 38. The first section 36 and the second section 38 are connected by a flexible joint 42. In the shown embodiment, the flexible joint 42 is a living hinge that enables the first section 36 of the base 34, the second section 38 of the base 34 and the flex joint 42 to be unistucturally molded as a single piece. The foot treadle 20 extends upwardly from the first section 36 of the base 34. The foot treadle 20 can also be molded unistucturally with the base 34.

The second section 38 of the base 34 is generally U-shaped. Accordingly, a center of the second section 38 defines an accessible open area 44. An engagement lip 46 is formed on the second section 38 of the base 34 at the back of the open area 44. The vertical fingers 12 extend upwardly from the second section 38 of the base 34. Each of the vertical fingers 12 has a lower segment 48 and an upper segment 50. The lower segments 48 of the vertical fingers 12 can be molded as part of the base 34. The upper segments 50 of the vertical fingers 12 are separate elements that are attached to the lower segments 48 at hinge joints 52. The hinge joints 52 enable the upper segments 50 of the vertical fingers 12 to rotate ninety degrees with respect to the lower segments 48. This feature enables the holding tee 16 to hold small balls that have a diameter smaller than the distance between the vertical fingers 12. The upper segments 50 are rotated horizontally toward the center of the holding tee 16. A small diameter ball, such as a ping pong ball, can then be placed atop the folded upper segments 50.

The housing 14 covers most of the actuator 40 with the exception of the foot treadle 20 and the vertical fingers 12. The bottom of the housing 14 is open and is placed upon a lower molding 54. The lower molding 54 has a flat baseplate 56. A main spring 58 is provided that extends between the base plate 56 and the actuator 40. The main spring 58 biases the actuator 40 against the housing 14, therein extending the vertical fingers 12 to their maximum height, or fully extended positions. The flex joint 42 enables the base 34 of the actuator 40 to bend. In this manner, the first section 36 of the base 34 can be flush against the inclined surface 22 of the housing 14 while the second section 38 of the base 34 is flush against the circular platform 24. When force is applied to the foot treadle 20 in excess of the resistive force of the main spring 58, the actuator 40 moves in the housing 14 toward the lower molding 54. This compresses the main spring 58, therein storing energy within the main spring 58. The actuator 40 moves to a retracted position, where the holding tee 16 is at its lowest point above the housing 14.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 in conjunction with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , it can be seen that a release mechanism 61 is provided that engages and retains the actuator 40 for a short period of time before releasing the actuator 40. The short period of time preferably lasts between two seconds and ten seconds. The delay in the release mechanism 61 is created using a gearbox 60. The gearbox 60 mounts to the base plate 56 of the lower molding 54. The gearbox 60 has a slip gear 62 that is coupled to a series of speed reduction gears 64. A groove 66 is formed in the slip gear 62. The groove 66 is shaped to selectively receive the engagement lip 46 on the second section 38 of the base 34. As the slip gear 62 rotates, the groove 66 can be moved between a release position and a retention position. In the release position, the actuator 40 can detach from the slip gear 62. In the retention position, the actuator 40 is engaged with the slip gear 62.

When the foot treadle 20 is pressed downward, the actuator 40 retracts in the housing 14. The open area 44 in the second section 38 of the base 34 descends around the gearbox 60. The engagement lip 46 on the base 34 of the actuator 40 is received by the groove 66 on the slip gear 62 in the gearbox 60. As the actuator 40 moves farther down, the actuator 40 physically rotates the slip gear 62 so that the groove 66 on the slip gear 62 is in a position of retention. When the groove 66 in the slip gear 62 is engaged with the base 34 of the actuator 40 and the groove 66 is in its position of retention, the actuator 40 cannot return to its original unretracted position.

When the slip gear 62 is rotated by the actuator 40, the actuator 40 attempts to rotate the slip gear 62 back to a position where in groove 66 releases the actuator 40. The speed reduction gears 64 slow this process for a few seconds. The slip gear 62 has a blank section 68 with no gear teeth. When this blank section 68 reaches the speed reduction gears 64, the slip gear 62 is not hindered by the speed reduction gears 64. The slip gear 62 then rapidly slips back to its original position. As the slip gear 62 slips, the slip gear 62 releases the actuator 40. The actuator 40 springs back to its original position using the energy stored in the main spring 58.

Once the actuator 40 is released, the vertical fingers 12 rapidly extend back to their full heights over the housing 14. Since the ball 18 is resting on the vertical fingers 12, the ball 18 is propelled into the air.

In the initial embodiment, the pop-up device 10 is illustrated as a stand alone device. This need not be the case. Referring to FIG. 6 , the pop-up device 10 previously described is shown integrated into a larger assembly 70 that includes ball holders 72 for holding balls 18 and a bat holder 74 for holding a bat 76.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for vertically launching a ball up into the air, comprising: a holding tee for selectively holding a ball; an actuator that supports said holding tee, said actuator being movable between a first position where said holding tee is extended and a second position where said holding tee is retracted; a spring for biasing said actuator into said first position; a release mechanism that retains said actuator in said second position when said actuator is manually moved to said second position, wherein said release mechanism maintains said actuator in said second position for a period of time before said release mechanism automatically releases said actuator, wherein said spring immediately returns said actuator to said first position.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said period of time is between two seconds and ten seconds.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said holding tee is comprised of a plurality of vertical fingers symmetrically disposed about a common point.
 4. The device according to claim 3, further including a foot treadle on said actuator for applying force to said actuator and moving said actuator toward said second position.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said actuator has a base with a first section and a second section, wherein said foot treadle is disposed on said first section of said base and said plurality of vertical fingers are disposed on said second section of said base.
 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein a flex hinge is disposed in said base between said first section and said second section.
 7. The device according to claim 4, further including a housing that surrounds said actuator, wherein said plurality of vertical fingers and said foot treadle extend through said housing.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said release mechanism includes a gearbox with a gear that engages said actuator when said actuator is in said second position.
 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said actuator rotates said gear in said gearbox when said actuator is moved into said second position from said first position.
 10. A device for vertically launching a ball up into the air, comprising: a holding tee for selectively holding a ball, wherein said holding tee is movable between an extended position and a retracted position; a spring for biasing said holding tee into said extended position; a foot treadle that moves said holding tee from said extended position to said retracted position when depressed; a release mechanism that retains said holding tee in said retracted position when said holding tee is moved from said extended position to said retracted position by said foot treadle, wherein said release mechanism maintains said holding tee in said retracted position for a period of time before said spring suddenly returns said holding tee to said extended position.
 11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said period of time is between two seconds and ten seconds.
 12. The device according to claim 10, wherein said holding tee is comprised of a plurality of vertical fingers symmetrically disposed about a common point.
 13. The device according to claim 10, wherein said holding tee and said foot treadle are connected to a common base.
 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein said base has a first section and a second section, wherein said foot treadle is disposed on said first section of said base and said holding tee is disposed on said second section of said base.
 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein a hinge is disposed on said base between said first section and said second section.
 16. The device according to claim 10, further including a housing, wherein said holding tee and said foot treadle extend through said housing.
 17. The device according to claim 13, wherein said release mechanism includes a gearbox with a gear that engages said base when said holding tee is in said retracted position.
 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein said base rotates said gear in said gearbox when said holding tee is moved into said retracted position from said extended position. 